my timesThe Korea Times
pzzang

Pyo Kyung-min

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Stay tuned for Pyo Kyung-min's latest K-pop stories, where she digs into the backstories that matter. She’d love to hear from you — share your thoughts at pzzang@koreatimes.co.kr. After all, every article gets better with insights from those who love the scene, just like she does!

Go to Email

Read more

K-pop

How K-pop is pushing into children's content worldwide

A genre once defined by teen and young adult fandoms, K-pop is now gradually pushing into children's entertainment, stepping into spaces traditionally filled by preschool shows and beginner book series. The expansion introduces the genre to some of the youngest media consumers yet — a development educators and analysts say could have lasting effects on how children form cultural tastes and media routines. One of the latest examples comes from five-piece girl group FIFTY FIFTY. The group's agency, ATTRAKT, said it released a seasonal single titled "Making Christmas Magical" on Nov. 28 in collaboration with Blocks Universe, a children's content IP whose characters — Numberblocks, Alphablocks, Colorblocks and Wonderblocks — are widely used in U.K. classrooms and preschools. According to brand owner Alphablocks, the project marks the franchise's first major cross-brand Christmas release uniting all four properties. The song was produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio, a long-time Alphablocks partner and a BAFTA- and Emmy-winning, B Corp–certified studio known for its educational anima

Dec 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
How K-pop is pushing into children's content worldwide
K-pop

K-pop’s virtual idol boom reaches stadium scale, reshapes industry

The sight of a virtual idol group filling Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, a venue long reserved for K-pop’s most powerful performers, would have seemed implausible only a few years ago. But PLAVE, a virtual K-pop boy band under VLAST, drew 37,000 fans to the arena on Nov. 21-22, marking a breakthrough moment for the genre’s expanding virtual idol sector and redefining who — or what — can claim the country’s largest stages. The five-member virtual act closed its 2025 Asia tour with two “DASH: Quantum Leap Encore” shows, ending a run that began in August and included stops in Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok and Tokyo. The Seoul encore was held at Gocheok Sky Dome, one of Korea’s largest concert venues and typically reserved for top-tier acts such as BTS and BLACKPINK. PLAVE is the first virtual group to join that roster. The two shows drew more than half a million presale ticket attempts before selling out, underscoring the commercial momentum behind virtual acts and the growing appetite for technology-driven performers. The milestone reflects broader changes in the K-pop m

Nov 30, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop’s virtual idol boom reaches stadium scale, reshapes industry
Arts & Theater

Korean Art Odyssey Connecting the dots: Towards more integrated approaches for Korean art abroad

CHICAGO/JEJU — As global interest in Korean culture reaches new heights, museums across the world are approaching Korean institutions with unprecedented frequency, seeking joint exhibitions, research partnerships and even permanent Korean galleries. But this rush of attention has also exposed structural limits of the existing system for cultural exchanges and support for Korea-related programs. Overseas, staffing shortages, conservation gaps and short-term project cycles continue to restrict what institutions can achieve, even as demand accelerates. These challenges have formed the backdrop to Korea's reorganized support system for Korean-themed collections and galleries abroad — a structure that aims not only to streamline responsibilities, but also to answer a larger question of how to turn short-term momentum into lasting infrastructure. Korean cultural heritage began appearing in overseas exhibitions as early as the 1960s, when most exchanges were limited to museum-to-museum loans. Over the decades, the Korea Foundation, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, helped expand these

Nov 29, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo and Pyo Kyung-min
[Korean Art Odyssey] Connecting the dots: Towards more integrated approaches for Korean art abroad
K-pop

RESCENE bottles up berry scent on new mini-album 'lip bomb'

K-pop girl group RESCENE is extending its signature scent-themed identity with the arrival of third mini-album "lip bomb," released Tuesday. The five-member act is continuing the fragrance-inspired aesthetic that has shaped its career since debut, but with a concept that blends softness with impact. Since launching in 2024, Woni, Liv, Minami, May and Zena have built their sonic identity by connecting each release to a scent. The team's February track, "Glow Up," introduced a soap-fresh charm, followed by the summery grass aroma referenced in July's "Dearest." The new record pushes the concept forward with a playful twist. The title "lip bomb" blends the softness of lip balm with the idea of a fragrance bursting open, symbolizing both a berry-sweet linger and the signature charm RESCENE aims to leave behind. "Our music is meant to wrap around listeners gently like berry-scented lip balm," leader Woni said during a media showcase held hours before the official album drop. "We wanted to sweeten someone's day the moment they hear our songs." The mini album features five tracks, led by the dou

Nov 25, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
RESCENE bottles up berry scent on new mini-album 'lip bomb'
K-pop

TripleS returns with full 24-member lineup in unit-driven album 'Beyond Beauty'

With a record-breaking lineup of 24 members, K-pop girl group tripleS returned to the scene Monday with its new album, "Beyond Beauty," introducing four new subunits into the spotlight at once. The units, themed around the "powers of the universe" — Moon, Sun, Neptune and Zenith — pursue four distinct sounds and concepts within a single release. The group's defining system remains unchanged: Global fans determine both the member lineup for each promotion cycle and lead tracks for albums by voting on the group's exclusive COSMO app. Depending on the results, only a handful of members or the entire roster may take the stage, turning the group's massive size into a flexible format. This time, voters selected an all-member promotion under the name tripleS msnz, reflecting their intro track, "Magic Shine New Zone." Within that umbrella, each six-member subunit will run its own track and concept in parallel. Moon brings together Sullin, Jiyeon, Sohyun, Kaede, Shion and Lynn; and the Sun unit consists of Xinyu, Yooyeon, Mayu, Chaewon, Chaeyeon and Hyerin. Neptune includes Seoyeon, Dahyun,

Nov 24, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
TripleS returns with full 24-member lineup in unit-driven album 'Beyond Beauty'
K-pop

Can GIRLSET's rebrand succeed where VCHA stalled?

When JYP Entertainment announced that its first American-market girl group VCHA would return under a new identity in August, some saw it as a second chance, while others saw it as a final gamble. Now operating as GIRLSET, the group has reentered the competitive pop arena with a tightened four-member lineup and a new single, "Little Miss," raising the question that lingered quietly even before the girl group's rebrand: Can this team finally achieve the breakthrough that once seemed within reach? GIRLSET's path has been anything but linear. Formed through the 2023 survival program "A2K" as a joint project between JYP and Republic Records, the group debuted in January 2024 with considerable expectations and just as many doubts. The label positioned them as the earliest proof that the K-pop training model could be relocated and replicated overseas — with international members for an international market — but the discipline and polish of a Korean idol system. But the group's momentum stalled almost as quickly as it began. Member Kaylee paused activities for health reasons in March 2024, f

Nov 24, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Can GIRLSET's rebrand succeed where VCHA stalled?
K-pop

K-pop's year-end concert calendar: Where to close out 2025 with music

As winter settles in and holiday lights begin to take over city streets, Korea's live music scene is gearing up for one of its busiest stretches of the year. Dome-scale finales, world tour homecomings and intimate ballad concerts are all on the calendar, giving fans plenty of ways to close out 2025. From viral K-pop groups to more low-key acts, here is a look at some of the key year-end shows from late November through December. PLAVE Virtual boy band PLAVE will wrap its first Asia tour with "2025 PLAVE Asia Tour 'DASH: Quantum Leap' Encore," a two-night finale at the iconic Gocheok Sky Dome — one of Korea's biggest venues — on Friday and Saturday. The concerts serve as the last chapter of the "DASH: Quantum Leap" run, which has helped establish the five-member act as a leading virtual presence in K-pop. For the dome encore, the group is expected to scale up its visuals and staging to match the venue, turning the shows into a high-impact send-off for the group's landmark tour. DAY6 DAY6, the four-piece rock band under K-pop giant JYP Entertainment, is scheduled to mark their return to

Nov 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop's year-end concert calendar: Where to close out 2025 with music
K-pop

First K-pop-inspired Latin boy band SANTOS BRAVOS steps into global arena

If HYBE Labels' "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy has already begun reshaping pop through its U.S. and Japan branches with acts like KATSEYE and &TEAM, the company is now extending that blueprint to Latin America with its newest project, SANTOS BRAVOS. Formed through a televised reality series of the same name that aired from August to October, the five-member boy group — Drew, Alejandro, Kaue, Gaby and Kenneth — represents HYBE's most ambitious localization effort yet. The band's launch suggests the strategy is paying off: SANTOS BRAVOS debuted with a concert in Mexico, selling out every seat and positioning themselves as early global contenders. Its debut builds on the momentum of HYBE's overseas units. U.S.-based global girl group KATSEYE has surged to the forefront of pop, dominating international charts and securing two nominations at the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards, while Japan's &TEAM has climbed to million-seller status in both Korea and Japan. HYBE Latin America aims to carve out its own lane, pairing the region's rhythmic traditions with the performance-driven precision

Nov 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
First K-pop-inspired Latin boy band SANTOS BRAVOS steps into global arena
Trends

Why Spotify is betting big on Korea's new listening culture

In Korea, music streaming is no longer just about listening — it’s becoming a lifestyle. As Korean pop culture continues to expand its global influence and Gen Z turns playlists into tools of self-expression, music platforms are racing to keep up. What used to be a straightforward choice between a few domestic services has shifted into a multi-platform habit: one app for chart voting, another for discovery, another for mood playlists. In this new landscape, Spotify is trying to move from "just another app" to something closer to a lifestyle brand, embedding itself into daily routines both online and offline. An ordinary stretch of street in Seoul’s trendy Seongsu-dong took on a different energy earlier this month. Past crowded cosmetic stores and the stream of office workers and students, a three‑story building pulsed with music loud enough to spill onto the sidewalk. Inside was Spotify House Seoul, a pop-up venue where the streaming giant staged its largest offline event in Korea to date from Nov. 13 to 15. The installation was more than a temporary attraction. Through interacti

Nov 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Why Spotify is betting big on Korea's new listening culture
K-pop

INFINITE's Jang Dong-woo turns alarm into anthem with 'AWAKE'

Jang Dong-woo is starting his days with an alarm — literally. He wakes up at 7 a.m. every day to upload content tied to alarm-themed promotions for his new solo album and monitor fan reactions. He has always been the loudest spark in the second-gen K-pop boy band INFINITE — the group's kinetic rapper, dancer and resident live wire, but on a chilly Monday morning during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Yongsan District, he leaned forward with the urgency of someone who has rebuilt himself piece by piece. "This album is made out of my own money and thus falls entirely under my responsibility," Jang said, half laughing at the weight of it. "I finally understand why entertainment CEOs get so stressed." A whopping six years and eight months after his first solo project, the INFINITE rapper-performer returns Tuesday with "AWAKE," a self-made, six-song mini-album designed to jolt listeners out of emotional autopilot. The concept fits him. His energy fires fast, his words tumble out and even his jokes land with precision. But beneath that positivity was the steely resol

Nov 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
INFINITE's Jang Dong-woo turns alarm into anthem with 'AWAKE'
previous page
1819202122
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.